Craig Kieswetter blasted a powerful 61 as Somerset made it three Friends Life t20 wins a row with a nine-wicket destruction of arch-rivals Gloucestershire at Bristol.

The home side could post only 125 all out after losing the toss, Hamish Marshall making 33 and Chris Dent 29. Alfonso Thomas claimed four wickets for 35 runs, reward for some accurate yorkers and variations in pace. Such a total was never likely to test Somerset's big-hitting batting line-up. Kieswetter and Chris Jones produced a century opening stand in 13 overs and the outcome was never in doubt as the visitors won with 23 balls to spare.

Kieswetter was in scintillating form, reaching his half-century off just 29 balls, with six fours and a towering six over long-on off Craig Miles, before falling to a skied catch off left-arm spinner Tom Smith.

Jones, who has grasped the opportunity presented by Marcus Trescothick's ankle injury, lost little by comparison. The 22-year-old batsman demonstrated the talent which saw him take a hundred off Australia's attack in the tour match at Taunton this season. He followed Kieswetter to a half-century, completing it with the winning boundary, having faced 47 balls and hit four fours and a six as Somerset closed out the most comprehensive of victories.

Gloucestershire never recovered from losing captain and key player Michael Klinger off the first ball of the third over, bowled by their former player Steve Kirby. The Australian cut loosely to Nick Compton at backward point and departed for 2.

There was still no hint of what was to come when the hosts reached 37 for 1 at the end of the six overs of Powerplay and the total had advanced to 57 when Dent was stumped by Craig Kieswetter to give legspinner Max Waller his first wicket. Gloucestershire still had a measure of control at 72 for 2 but once Marshall was caught behind flashing at Thomas it developed into a procession, with a sequence of sorry shots, as the last eight wickets fell for just 53.

Peter Trego returned figures of 1 for 7 from three overs as the home side lost their way. Waller bowled Alex Gidman with a googly to finish with an impressive 2 for 22 from his four overs. Yasir Arafat and Thomas wove a spell over the Gloucestershire batsmen and boundaries dried up. The entire innings featured only three sixes and nine fours.